Matthew 6:12,  "And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]."

Think

"Forgiveness is not about feelings. It's about commitment." What if God forgave you exactly the way you forgave others? Would God have resentment towards you, even though He said you were forgiven? Would God occasionally remind you of how many times He has forgiven you? Would God pretend things were good on the surface, but replay in His mind what you did wrong over and over again? Thankfully, the answer to those questions is "No!" When God forgives us, He lets go of the wrong. Psalm 103:12 says, "He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west." When God forgives us, He lets go of the resentment. Romans 8:1 says, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Because God has forgiven us this way, we should commit to forgive others that way; even if we don't feel like it. Because forgiveness isn't about our feelings; it is about our commitment to living out what God has commanded.

 

Act

Take a moment to evaluate the way you forgive others. How does your brand of forgiveness compare to God's?

 

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for the amazing forgiveness You give me through Jesus Christ. Please help me forgive others the way You have forgiven me. In Jesus' name, Amen.